Tornadoes · United States · Illinois · 2026
EF1 tornado, Piatt and Champaign counties, Illinois, August 11, 2026
This EF1 tornado ran 22.5 miles across Piatt and Champaign counties on August 11, 2026, touching down at 3:12 PM CDT and reaching 800 yards wide. It killed nobody.
Preliminary. This is NWS ILX's damage survey, filed in the Damage Assessment Toolkit as White Heath Tornado. The rating, the path and the casualties are the survey's and can change while it is revised. The Storm Prediction Center compiles the official record of 2026 from these surveys and publishes it in the spring of 2027; this page moves to that tornado's permanent address when it does.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The survey
- Rating, as surveyed
- EF1, preliminary
- Date
- August 11, 2026
- Touchdown
- 3:12 PM CDT (20:12 UTC)
- Lifted
- 3:42 PM CDT (20:42 UTC)
- On the ground
- 30 minutes
- Path length
- 22.5 miles (36.3 km)
- Path width
- 800 yards (732 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Counties
- Piatt and Champaign counties
- Touchdown point
- 40.139, -88.572
- Lift-off point
- 39.913, -88.269
- Highest wind the damage implies
- 100 mph
- Surveyed by
- NWS ILX
- The office's name for it
- White Heath Tornado
- Survey last edited
- September 9, 2026
- Record number
- None yet. SPC numbers 2026 in the spring of 2027.
What the survey found
A tornado touched down northwest of Lodge, causing damage to power poles along route 10. It caused tree damage and crop damage as it moved southeast and flipped a box truck on I-72 in white heath. As it continued southeast, it damaged two large outbuildings and one garage. it continued southeast, resulting in more corn damage and tree damage in Sadorus . It ended in Pesotum with tree damage. Revised track based on Sentinal satellite data.
Written by NWS ILX in the NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit. A survey is revised as better evidence arrives.
The warnings
No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down. One was issued for the county at another hour that day.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19:50 UTC | 20:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX |
| 20:17 UTC | 20:43 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | ILX |
| 20:25 UTC | 20:38 UTC | Tornado Warning | ILX |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Slight Risk, with a 0.02 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 20:00 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Lincoln, IL (KILX), 12:00Z
8.2 hours before the tornado, 21 km from the path. August 11, 2026.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2617 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -144 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 3287 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1547 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 20 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 28 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 142 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 140 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.2
- Supercell composite
- 4.5
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.7 K/km
Lincoln, IL (KILX), 00:00Z
3.8 hours after it, 21 km from the path. August 12, 2026.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 4020 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -54 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 4858 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1243 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 42 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 13 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 81 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 147 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 2.0
- Supercell composite
- 15.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 7.2 K/km
The surface observations
Champaign - Willard (CMI), 12 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:15 UTC | 290° 7 kt | 1014.6 | ||||
| 18:20 UTC | 290° 4 kt | 1014.2 | ||||
| 18:25 UTC | 310° 5 kt | 1014.2 | ||||
| 18:30 UTC | 320° 4 kt | 1014.2 | ||||
| 18:35 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1013.9 | ||||
| 18:40 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1013.5 | ||||
| 18:45 UTC | 140° 3 kt | 1013.5 | ||||
| 18:50 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1013.2 | ||||
| 18:53 UTC | 87 | 76 | 160° 5 kt | 1012.9 | ||
| 18:55 UTC | 150° 7 kt | 1012.9 | ||||
| 19:00 UTC | 150° 8 kt | 1012.5 | ||||
| 19:05 UTC | 170° 8 kt | 1012.5 | ||||
| 19:10 UTC | 180° 8 kt | 1012.9 | ||||
| 19:15 UTC | 160° 5 kt | 1013.2 | ||||
| 19:20 UTC | 190° 3 kt | 1013.2 | ||||
| 19:25 UTC | 240° 6 kt | 1013.5 | ||||
| 19:30 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1013.9 | ||||
| 19:35 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1013.9 | ||||
| 19:40 UTC | 360° 3 kt | 1014.2 | ||||
| 19:45 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1014.2 | ||||
| 19:50 UTC | 1014.2 | |||||
| 19:53 UTC | 83 | 74 | 1014.2 | |||
| 19:55 UTC | 13 kt | 1014.2 | ||||
| 20:00 UTC | 60° 12 kt | 1013.9 | ||||
| 20:05 UTC | 70° 14 kt | 1013.9 | ||||
| 20:10 UTC | 70° 14 kt | 1013.5 | ||||
| 20:15 UTC | 1012.9 | |||||
| 20:20 UTC | 1012.5 | |||||
| 20:25 UTC | 100° 11 kt | 19 | 1012.5 | |||
| 20:30 UTC | 100° 11 kt | 1012.9 | ||||
| 20:32 UTC | 78 | 71 | 90° 11 kt | 1013.2 | TS | |
| 20:35 UTC | 60° 9 kt | 1014.6 | ||||
| 20:40 UTC | 45 | HZ SQ | ||||
| 20:41 UTC | 76 | 69 | 320° 32 kt | 46 | 1018.3 | -TSRA SQ |
| 20:44 UTC | 71 | 68 | 20° 31 kt | 46 | 1015.9 | +TSRA BR SQ |
| 20:45 UTC | 39 | +RA BR SQ | ||||
| 20:50 UTC | 31 | 1012.5 | +RA FG | |||
| 20:53 UTC | 67 | 65 | 60° 15 kt | 40 | 1012.2 | +TSRA BR |
| 20:55 UTC | 80° 9 kt | 1012.2 | +RA BR | |||
| 20:58 UTC | 68 | 65 | 90° 5 kt | 39 | 1012.5 | +TSRA BR |
| 21:00 UTC | 60° 7 kt | 1012.9 | RA BR | |||
| 21:01 UTC | 69 | 65 | 60° 9 kt | 24 | 1012.5 | TSRA BR |
| 21:05 UTC | 1012.2 | -RA BR | ||||
| 21:10 UTC | 60° 6 kt | 1011.9 | -RA | |||
| 21:15 UTC | 170° 5 kt | 1012.2 | -RA | |||
| 21:20 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1012.5 | ||||
| 21:25 UTC | 170° 7 kt | 1012.9 | ||||
| 21:27 UTC | 69 | 65 | 180° 5 kt | 1012.9 | VCTS | |
| 21:30 UTC | 160° 4 kt | 1012.9 | ||||
| 21:35 UTC | 140° 4 kt | 1013.2 | ||||
| 21:40 UTC | 69 | 66 | 0° 0 kt | 1013.2 | ||
| 21:40 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1013.2 | ||||
| 21:45 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1012.9 | ||||
| 21:50 UTC | 200° 3 kt | 1012.9 | ||||
| 21:53 UTC | 69 | 67 | 190° 3 kt | 1012.9 | ||
| 21:55 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1012.9 | ||||
| 22:00 UTC | 150° 7 kt | 1013.2 | ||||
| 22:05 UTC | 150° 4 kt | 1013.2 | ||||
| 22:10 UTC | 150° 5 kt | 1012.9 |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Lincoln radar (KILX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 20:10 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Wsw Paxton | Ford, IL | Downed tree limbs along Route 9 west of Paxton near the airport. Time estimated by radar. |
| 19:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Wsw Paxton | Ford, IL | Downed tree limbs along Route 9 west of Paxton near the airport. Time estimated by radar. |
| 19:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Wsw Paxton | Ford, IL | Downed tree limbs along Route 9 west of Paxton near the airport. Time estimated by radar. |
| 19:45 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 7 Ese Heyworth | De Witt, IL | Several large trees and tree limbs snapped off. Time estimated by radar. |
| 20:12 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | De Land | Piatt, IL | Machine shed lost a roof near Deland. Time estimated by radar. |
| 20:16 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Lodge | Piatt, IL | Route 10 is closed by Lodge due to power lines down. Time estimated by radar. |
| 20:20 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ne White Heath | Piatt, IL | numerous trees down east of Lodge and northwest of White Heath along IL HWY 10. |
| 20:24 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Se White Heath | Champaign, IL | Farm building destroyed with debris thrown into field, trees snapped at two farms at 1100N and 100E, approximately four miles south of Seymour, IL. Time estimated from radar. |
| 20:29 UTC | FUNNEL CLOUD | 2 Ssw Seymour | Champaign, IL | Funnel cloud spotted at 1300 N 100 E moving ESE. |
| 20:29 UTC | TORNADO | 3 S Seymour | Champaign, IL | |
| 20:33 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nnw Sadorus | Champaign, IL | Shed partially collapsed with two walls and roof removed. Time estimated from radar. |
| 20:38 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Pesotum | Champaign, IL | Several trees and tree limbs down were blown down. |
| 20:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Tolono | Champaign, IL | Several large trees snapped near their base with multiple areas of fencing blown down. Time estimated from radar. |
| 20:42 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ne Tolono | Champaign, IL | Large tree limbs down at the Tolono East Side Park. |
| 20:55 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Camargo | Douglas, IL | Tree limbs down and large tree snapped. |
| 21:05 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Newman | Douglas, IL | Powerlines and tree branches down across town. Time estimated by radar. |
| 21:05 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Sidell | Vermilion, IL | Large tree fell on a mobile home. Time estimated by radar. |
| 21:13 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Ridge Farm | Vermilion, IL | Multiple trees down. Time estimated by radar. |
| 21:14 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Chrisman | Edgar, IL | Powerlines and tree branches down in Chrisman. Time estimated by radar. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2026 tornado in IllinoisEvery tornado in Illinois since 1950Warnings in force in Illinois nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of August 11, 2026
28 more have been surveyed in the United States that day, so far.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 11 | 7:58 AM EDT | EF0 | Jay, IN | 0.6 | 15 | |||
| August 11 | 7:31 AM CDT | EF1 | Delaware, IA | 2.4 | 150 | |||
| August 11 | 7:44 AM CDT | EF1 | Delaware, IA | 1.5 | 100 | |||
| August 11 | 7:45 AM CDT | EF1 | Delaware, IA | 2.6 | 75 | |||
| August 11 | 9:24 AM EDT | EF0 | Clark, OH | 4.5 | 150 | |||
| August 11 | 8:29 AM CDT | EF0 | Clinton, IA | 0.3 | 0 | |||
| August 11 | 9:30 AM EDT | EF1 | Champaign, OH | 3.6 | 200 | |||
| August 11 | 9:31 AM EDT | EF1 | Clark, OH | 9.2 | 200 | |||
| August 11 | 9:33 AM EDT | EF2 | Clark, OH | 3.5 | 400 | |||
| August 11 | 9:44 AM EDT | EF1 | Madison, OH | 0.8 | 125 | |||
| August 11 | 9:51 AM EDT | EF0 | Madison, OH | 1.2 | 100 | |||
| August 11 | 10:05 AM EDT | EF0 | Franklin, OH | 2.7 | 150 | 2 | ||
| August 11 | 10:05 AM EDT | EF1 | Franklin, OH | 1.8 | 100 | |||
| August 11 | 10:08 AM EDT | EF1 | Franklin, OH | 1.3 | 150 | |||
| August 11 | 10:14 AM CDT | EF0 | Kendall, IL | 5.4 | 150 | |||
| August 11 | 10:20 AM CDT | EF0 | Grundy, IL | 1.6 | 250 | |||
| August 11 | 10:23 AM CDT | EF0 | Grundy, IL | 2.2 | 150 | |||
| August 11 | 10:37 AM CDT | EF1 | Will, IL | 1.5 | 150 | |||
| August 11 | 10:39 AM CDT | EF1 | Will, IL | 7.6 | 200 | |||
| August 11 | 10:41 AM CDT | EF1 | Cook, IL to IN | 22.5 | 300 | |||
| August 11 | 10:43 AM CDT | EF2 | Will, IL to IN | 26.2 | 500 | |||
| August 11 | 10:55 AM CDT | EF1 | Cook, IL | 3.3 | 300 | |||
| August 11 | 3:13 PM EDT | EF1 | Butler, OH | 11.3 | 500 | |||
| August 11 | 3:47 PM EDT | EF0 | Clermont, OH | 5.2 | 200 | |||
| August 11 | 3:49 PM EDT | EF0 | Clermont, OH | 5.5 | 150 | |||
| August 11 | 3:51 PM EDT | EF0 | Boone, KY | 2.9 | 150 | |||
| August 11 | 3:56 PM EDT | EF0 | Brown, OH | 6.4 | 200 | |||
| August 11 | 4:16 PM EDT | EF1 | Brown, OH | 7.1 | 350 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. A survey can be revised, so the rating, the path and the casualties can all still change.
Sources
NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit, the record the survey teams file from the damage, and NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports. Neither is the official database for 2026, which SPC publishes in the spring of 2027.